Wax-free chewing gums with controlled sweetener release

ABSTRACT

A wax-free chewing gum is provided which uses a gum base which is devoid or substantially free of wax. The gum base includes about 20 to about 60 weight percent synthetic elastomer, 0 to about 30 weight percent natural elastomer, about 5 to about 55 weight percent elastomer plasticizer, about 4 to about 40 weight percent filler, about 5 to about 40 weight percent softener, and optional minor amounts of miscellaneous ingredients such as colors, antioxidants, etc. Wax-free chewing gum compositions which contain the wax-free gum base are also provided, which chewing gums further comprise flavoring agents and water-soluble bulk portions. The bulk portions contain controlled release sweeteners at least one of which provides a similar release profile to the release profile of at least one flavoring agent present in the chewing gums.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of copending InternationalApplication No. PCT/US92/11317, (Case No. 1391/1289), filed on Dec. 30,1992, which in turn is a continuation-in-part of InternationalApplication No. PCT/US92/09615, filed on Nov. 6, 1992, which in turn isa continuation-in-part of PCT/US92/01686, filed on Mar. 3, 1992.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an improved wax-free chewing gum andparticularly to wax-free chewing gum products containing controlledrelease sweeteners.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

U.S. Pat. No. 3,984,574, issued to Comollo, discloses an abhesivechewing gum base in which the non-tack properties were achieved byeliminating conventional chewing gum base ingredients which were foundto contribute to chewing gum tackiness, and by substituting non-tackyingredients in place of the conventional ingredients. Specifically, itwas discovered that three classes of materials account for conventionalchewing gum tackiness. These materials are elastomers, resins, andwaxes.

Comollo eliminated natural and some synthetic elastomers from chewinggum base, and substituted in their place one or more non-tacky syntheticelastomers such as polyisobutylene, polyisoprene, isobutyleneisoprenecopolymer and butadiene-styrene copolymer. Comollo also eliminated thetack-producing natural resins and modified natural resins and usedinstead relatively high amounts of hydrogenated or partiallyhydrogenated vegetable oils or animal fats. Finally, Comollo completelyexcluded waxes from the gum base, but included polyvinyl acetate, fattyacids, and mono and diglycerides of fatty acids. Comollo did not teachcontrolled release of sweeteners with his abhesive chewing gums.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a wax-free chewing gum containingcontrolled release sweeteners. The chewing gum of the invention includesa wax-free chewing gum base comprising quantities of syntheticelastomer, elastomer plasticizer, filler and softener, and, like the gumbase of Comollo, is substantially free of wax. However, the gum base ofthe invention is not limited to use in a non-tack chewing gum and may,therefore, contain optional quantities of natural elastomer and/ornatural resins. The gum base of the invention may also contain optionalquantities of minor ingredients such as color and antioxidant.

The use of natural elastomers in the gum base compliments certainchewing gum flavors, such as mint oil, by rounding out the otherwiseharsh or grassy notes in the flavor. The presence of natural elastomersand natural resins in the gum base also contributes to improved chewinggum texture and flavor retention. There is currently a need or desire inthe chewing gum industry for gum bases which are devoid or substantiallyfree of hydrocarbon-containing waxes and which contain desiredquantities of natural elastomers, natural resins, or both.

When the wax-free gum bases are formulated with water-solubleingredients, such as, for example, sweeteners, bulking agents, binders,and the like, and flavoring agents, it has been determined that thewax-free gum bases, when formulated into chewing gums, surprisinglyproduce chewing gums which tend to release certain flavoring ingredientsat accelerated rates. Also, it's been observed that a greater overallquantity of flavor is released from wax-free gums. This results not onlyin a stronger initial flavor impact, but also in a stronger flavor inlater stages of chewing. This is taught in U.S. patent application07/997,732, filed Dec. 30, 1992 (Case No. 1391/1282), which isincorporated herein by reference. To obtain a balanced release of flavorand sweeteners, which balance enhances the consumer's pleasure, it isnow important in the wax-free chewing gums of this invention toformulate the wax-free chewing gum with not only the wax-free gum basesof the invention, but also to formulate the chewing gums using flavorsand sweeteners which release essentially concurrently. This requires acontrolled sweetener release that provides rapid release to complimentthe more rapid release of flavors in wax-free chewing gums, but alsoprovides controlled, and longer term sweetener release, concurrentlywith stronger flavor release in later stages of the chew, therebyproviding consumer pleasure over the life of the chew.

With the foregoing in mind, it is a feature and advantage of theinvention to provide a substantially wax-free chewing gum base.

It is also a feature and advantage of the invention to provide asuitably soft gum base in which wax is not needed to soften the gumbase.

It is also a feature and advantage of the invention to provide improvedchewing gums which contain the wax-free chewing gum base of theinvention, which gums contain controlled release sweeteners.

It is also a feature and advantage of the invention to provide improvedchewing gums made from said inventive wax-free gum base which does notretain the amount of flavor typical sugarless gums retain after chewing,and in fact releases flavoring ingredients at a rate greater thanobserved with a wax containing chewing gum, and to provide sweetenerrelease at comparable rates to flavor release from these wax-freechewing gums, both initially and throughout the chew.

It is also a feature and advantage of the invention to provide chewinggum products having desirable properties such as flavor quality andstrength, flavor and sweetness retention, sweetness and flavor releaseprofiles which are comparable, or at least similar to one another,controlled rate of both flavor and sweetness release, controlledsweetness release at rates at least comparable to flavor release in thewax-free chewing gums of this invention, as well as breath freshening,dental and oral health properties and good shelf stability.

The foregoing and other features and advantages will become furtherapparent from the following detailed description of the presentlypreferred embodiments, when read in conjunction with the accompanyingexamples. It should be understood that the detailed description andexamples are illustrative rather than limitative, the scope of thepresent invention being defined by the appended claims and equivalentsthereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In accordance with the invention, a chewing gum base is provided for usein either non-tack or conventional chewing gum, which may be eitherbubble gum or regular chewing gum. The chewing gum base of the inventioncontains about 20 to about 60 weight percent synthetic elastomer, 0 toabout 30 weight percent natural elastomer, about 5 to about 55 weightpercent elastomer plasticizer, about 4 to about 35 weight percentfiller, about 5 to about 35 weight percent softener, and optional minoramounts (about one percent or less) of miscellaneous ingredients such ascolorants, antioxidants, etc.

Synthetic elastomers may include, but are not limited to,polyisobutylene with GPC molecular weight of about 10,000 to about95,000, isobutylene-isoprene copolymer (butyl elastomer),styrene-butadiene copolymers having styrene-butadiene ratios of about1:3 to about 3:1, polyvinyl acetate having GPC molecular weight of about2,000 to about 90,000, polyisoprene, polyethylene, vinyl acetate-vinyllaurate copolymer having vinyl laurate content of about 5 to about 50percent by weight of the copolymer, and combinations thereof. Preferredcombinations include, but are not limited to polyisobutylene andstyrene-butadiene, polyisobutylene and polyisoprene, polyisobutylene andisobutylene-isoprene copolymer (butyl rubber), polyisobutylene,styrene-butadiene copolymer, and isobutylene-isoprene copolymer, and allof the above in admixture with polyvinyl acetate, vinyl acetate-vinyllaurate copolymers and mixtures thereof.

Preferred ranges are, for polyisobutylene, 50,000 to 80,000 GPCmolecular weight, for styrene-butadiene, 1:1 to 1:3 boundstyrene-butadiene, for polyvinyl acetate, 10,000 to 65,000 GPC molecularweight with the higher molecular weight polyvinyl acetates typicallyused in bubble gum base, and for vinyl acetate-vinyl laurate, vinyllaurate content of 10-45 percent.

Natural elastomers may include natural rubber such as smoked or liquidlatex and guayule as well as natural gums such as jelutong, lechi caspi,perillo, sorva, massaranduba balata, massaranduba chocolate, nispero,rosindinha, chicle, gutta hang kang, chiquibul, crown gum, pendare,venezuelau chicle, leche de vaca, niger gutta, tunu, chilte andcombinations thereof. The preferred natural elastomers are jelutong,chicle, sorva and massaranduba balata. The preferred elastomers andelastomer concentrations vary depending on whether the chewing gum inwhich the base is used is adhesive or conventional, bubble gum orregular gum, as discussed below.

Elastomer plasticizers may include, but are not limited to, naturalrosin esters such as glycerol esters of partially hydrogenated rosin,glycerol esters of polymerized rosin, glycerol esters of partiallydimerized rosin, glycerol esters of rosin, glycerol ester of tall oilrosin, pentaerythritol esters of partially hydrogenated rosin, methyland partially hydrogenated methyl esters of rosin, pentaerythritolesters of rosin; synthetics such as terpene resins derived fromalpha-pinene, beta-pinene, and/or d-limonene; natural terpene resin; andany suitable combinations of the foregoing. The preferred elastomerplasticizers will also vary depending on the specific application, andon the type of elastomer which is used. For example, use of terpeneresin to wholly or partially replace ester gums will cause the gum baseto be less tacky.

The term "wax-free" as used herein refers to the exclusion of waxeswhich contain mineral hydrocarbons. Natural waxes such as carnauba wax,beeswax, rice bran wax, and candellila wax do not contain mineralhydrocarbons and are therefor acceptable for use in the chewing gum baseand chewing gums prepared therefrom. However, our gum bases preferablycontain from 0-5 weight percent natural wax, and most preferably arefree of both mineral hydrocarbon waxes, i.e. petroleum waxes, andnatural waxes.

Fillers/texturizers may include magnesium and calcium carbonate, groundlimestone, silicate types such as magnesium and aluminum silicate, clay,alumina, talc, titanium oxide, mono-, di- and tri-calcium phosphate,cellulose polymers, such as wood, and combinations thereof.

Softeners/emulsifiers may include tallow, hydrogenated tallow,hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated vegetable oils, cocoa butter,glycerol monostearate, glycerol triacetate, lecithin, mono-, di-andtriglycerides, acetylated monoglycerides, fatty acids (e.g. stearic,palmitic, oleic and linoleic acids), lanolin, diacetin, and combinationsthereof. Hydrogenated vegetable oils are generally preferred, eitheralone or in combination with other softeners.

Colorants and whiteners may include FD&C-type dyes and lakes, fruit andvegetable extracts, titanium dioxide, cocoa powder and combinationsthereof.

The wax-free gum base of the invention may also contain optionalingredients such as either natural or synthetic antioxidants.

When the wax-free gum base of the invention is to be used in a regular(non-bubble) gum which has at least some abhesive (reduced tack)characteristics, the base should contain about 10 to about 40 weightpercent synthetic elastomer, about 15 to about 30 weight percentelastomer plasticizer, about 5 to about 30 weight percent filler, about15 to about 35 weight percent softener, 0 to about 1 weight percentcolorant and 0 to about 0.1 weight percent antioxidant. Specificembodiments of the wax-free gum base are provided in Examples 1-30below.

                                      TABLE 1                                     __________________________________________________________________________    Wax-Free Gum Bases                                                            For Use In Chewing Gum Having                                                 Some Reduced Tack Characteristics (Examples 1-30)                             __________________________________________________________________________    EXAMPLES 1-5                                                                  IDENTIFICATION - EXAMPLE #:                                                   GENERIC INGREDIENTS  1   2   3   4   5                                        __________________________________________________________________________    ** SYNTHETIC ELASTOMER **                                                     STYRENE-BUTADIENE ELASTOMER                                                                        5.3 --  2.1 1.3 1.8                                      BUTYL (ISOPRENE-ISOBUTYLENE)                                                                       8.6 7.9 7.2 14.8                                                                              --                                       ELASTOMER                                                                     POLYISOBUTYLENE ELASTOMER                                                                          7.1 --  7.4 5.2 24.8                                     POLYVINYL ACETATE    10.5                                                                              27.2                                                                              15.3                                                                              12.1                                                                              10.1                                     ** ELASTOMER PLASTICIZERS **                                                  GLYCEROL ESTERS OF ROSIN                                                                           2.1 --  19.0                                                                              --  3.7                                      GLYCEROL ESTERS OF PART HYD                                                                        4.3 18.2                                                                              --  15.3                                                                              7.9                                      ROSIN                                                                         TERPENE RESINS       10.8                                                                              --  --  --  7.1                                      ** FILLER **                                                                  CALCIUM CARBONATE    --  15.9                                                                              20.7                                                                              --  17.7                                     TALC                 25.5                                                                              --  --  16.7                                                                              --                                       ** SOFTENER **                                                                HYDROGENATED VEGETABLE OIL                                                                         15.3                                                                              22.6                                                                              24.3                                                                              28.4                                                                              21.0                                     GLYCEROL MONOSTEARATE                                                                              8.2 7.4 4.0 5.1 3.5                                      LECITHIN             2.3 0.8 --  1.1 2.4                                      TOTAL PERCENT        100.0                                                                             100.0                                                                             100.0                                                                             100.0                                                                             100.0                                    __________________________________________________________________________    EXAMPLES 6-10                                                                 IDENTIFICATION - EXAMPLE #:                                                   GENERIC INGREDIENTS  6   7   8   9   10                                       __________________________________________________________________________    ** SYNTHETIC ELASTOMER **                                                     STYRENE-BUTADIENE    --  --  --  5.2 2.1                                      ELASTOMER                                                                     BUTYL (ISOPRENE-     8.1 14.6                                                                              9.4 4.1 7.2                                      ISOBUTYLENE) ELASTOMER                                                        POLYISOBUTYLENE      3.6 1.2 13.0                                                                              5.9 7.3                                      ELASTOMER                                                                     POLYVINYL ACETATE    27.5                                                                              26.2                                                                              22.3                                                                              25.7                                                                              15.3                                     ** ELASTOMER PLASTICIZERS **                                                  GLYCEROL ESTERS OF ROSIN                                                                           --  4.9 --  23.5                                                                              19.1                                     GLYCEROL ESTERS OF PART                                                                            --  12.6                                                                              --  --  --                                       HYD ROSIN                                                                     TERPENE RESINS       27.1                                                                              --  10.0                                                                              3.2 --                                       ** FILLER **                                                                  CALCIUM CARBONATE    10.9                                                                              --  20.0                                                                              15.1                                                                              20.7                                     TALC                 --   13.1                                                                             --  --  --                                       ** SOFTENER **                                                                HYDROGENATED VEGETABLE                                                                             14.3                                                                              16.6                                                                              20.7                                                                              12.2                                                                              24.3                                     OIL                                                                           GLYCEROL MONOSTEARATE                                                                              4.8 9.6 4.6 5.1 4.0                                      LECITHIN             3.7 1.2 --  --  --                                       TOTAL PERCENT        100.0                                                                             100.0                                                                             100.0                                                                             100.00                                                                            100.0                                    __________________________________________________________________________    EXAMPLES 11-15                                                                IDENTIFICATION - EXAMPLE #:                                                   GENERIC INGREDIENTS  11  12  13  14  15                                       __________________________________________________________________________    ** SYNTHETIC ELASTOMER **                                                     STYRENE-BUTADIENE    4.3 5.9 3.9 --  2.1                                      ELASTOMER                                                                     BUTYL (ISOPRENE-     6.2 6.9 5.3 9.3 6.0                                      ISOBUTYLENE) ELASTOMER                                                        POLYISOBUTYLENE ELASTOMER                                                                          6.4 2.0 12.7                                                                              12.1                                                                              8.5                                      POLYVINYL ACETATE    21.8                                                                              24.8                                                                              14.9                                                                              21.4                                                                              15.3                                     ** ELASTOMER PLASTICIZERS **                                                  GLYCEROL ESTERS OF ROSIN                                                                           2.6 8.6 --  --  10.1                                     GLYCEROL ESTERS OF PART                                                                            --  8.0 --  --  8.9                                      HYD ROSIN                                                                     TERPENE RESINS       17.1                                                                              1.9 21.4                                                                              6.5 --                                       ** FILLER **                                                                  CALCIUM CARBONATE    --  9.9 13.7                                                                              21.4                                                                              20.9                                     TALC                 14.6                                                                              7.2 1.4 --  --                                       ** SOFTENER **                                                                HYDROGENATED VEGETABLE                                                                             19.5                                                                              21.1                                                                              18.7                                                                              25.2                                                                              24.2                                     OIL                                                                           GLYCEROL MONOSTEARATE                                                                              4.4 3.7 5.7 4.1 4.0                                      LECITHIN             3.1 --  2.3 --  --                                       TOTAL PERCENT        100.0                                                                             100.0                                                                             100.0                                                                             100.0                                                                             100.0                                    __________________________________________________________________________    EXAMPLES 16-20                                                                IDENTIFICATION - EXAMPLE #:                                                   GENERIC INGREDIENTS  16  17  18  19  20                                       __________________________________________________________________________    ** SYNTHETIC ELASTOMER **                                                     STYRENE-BUTADIENE ELASTOMER                                                                        1.6 --  2.7 --  --                                       BUTYL (ISOPRENE-ISOBUTYLENE)                                                                       3.7 8.1 2.3 8.9 3.6                                      ELASTOMER                                                                     POLYISOBUTYLENE ELASTOMER                                                                          6.8 3.6 14.2                                                                              10.0                                                                              11.1                                     POLYVINYL ACETATE    22.3                                                                              27.3                                                                              17.3                                                                              21.3                                                                              21.9                                     ** ELASTOMER PLASTICIZERS **                                                  GLYCEROL ESTERS OF ROSIN                                                                           9.9 --  --  --  19.6                                     GLYCEROL ESTERS OF PART HYD                                                                        4.3 --  27.3                                                                              --  11.2                                     ROSIN                                                                         TERPENE RESINS       11.6                                                                              26.9                                                                              --  9.7 3.7                                      ** FILLER **                                                                  CALCIUM CARBONATE    --  11.3                                                                              --  21.5                                                                              6.4                                      TALC                 17.2                                                                              --  8.2 --  --                                       ** SOFTENER **                                                                HYDROGENATED VEGETABLE OIL                                                                         17.8                                                                              14.3                                                                              22.4                                                                              23.2                                                                              19.2                                     GLYCEROL MONOSTEARATE                                                                              4.8 4.8 2.7 5.4 3.3                                      LECITHIN             --  3.7 2.9 --  --                                       TOTAL PERCENT        100.0                                                                             100.0                                                                             100.0                                                                             100.0                                                                             100.0                                    __________________________________________________________________________    EXAMPLES 21-25                                                                IDENTIFICATION - EXAMPLE #:                                                   GENERIC INGREDIENTS  21  22  23  24  25                                       __________________________________________________________________________    ** SYNTHETIC ELASTOMER **                                                     STYRENE-BUTADIENE ELASTOMER                                                                        --  1.4 3.2 --  4.1                                      BUTYL (ISOPRENE-ISOBUTYLENE)                                                                       7.4 8.4 7.3 8.8 11.3                                     ELASTOMER                                                                     POLYISOBUTYLENE ELASTOMER                                                                          1.9 1.6 7.5 3.5 7.9                                      POLYVINYL ACETATE    24.8                                                                              23.1                                                                              21.1                                                                              27.9                                                                              18.2                                     ** ELASTOMER PLASTICIZERS **                                                  GLYCEROL ESTERS OF ROSIN                                                                           --  13.1                                                                              15.3                                                                               -- --                                       GLYCEROL ESTERS OF PART HYD                                                                        --  22.1                                                                              2.4 --  26.2                                     ROSIN                                                                         TERPENE RESINS       25.8                                                                              3.6 5.8 27.4                                                                              1.4                                      ** FILLER **                                                                  CALCIUM CARBONATE    18.6                                                                              --  --  11.9                                                                              13.6                                     TALC                 --  7.3 14.8                                                                              --  --                                       ** SOFTENER **                                                                HYDROGENATED VEGETABLE OIL                                                                         12.3                                                                              11.3                                                                              19.8                                                                              12.3                                                                              8.2                                      GLYCEROL MONOSTEARATE                                                                              4.4 4.4 2.8 4.7 5.2                                      LECITHIN             4.8 3.7 --  3.5 3.9                                      TOTAL PERCENT        100.0                                                                             100.0                                                                             100.0                                                                             100.0                                                                             100.0                                    __________________________________________________________________________    EXAMPLES 26-30                                                                IDENTIFICATION - EXAMPLE #:                                                   GENERIC INGREDIENTS  26  27  28  29  30                                       __________________________________________________________________________    ** SYNTHETIC ELASTOMER **                                                     STYRENE-BUTADIENE    --  --  --  --  --                                       ELASTOMER                                                                     BUTYL (ISOPRENE-     10.0                                                                              9.2 2.4 8.3 8.8                                      ISOBUTYLENE) ELASTOMER                                                        POLYISOBUTYLENE ELASTOMER                                                                          1.9 6.3 8.4 3.6 2.3                                      POLYVINYL ACETATE    27.6                                                                              13.1                                                                              20.5                                                                              27.5                                                                              27.4                                     ** ELASTOMER PLASTICIZERS **                                                  GLYCEROL ESTERS OF ROSIN                                                                           --  --  --  --  --                                       GLYCEROL ESTERS OF PART                                                                            --  19.9                                                                              --  --  --                                       HYD ROSIN                                                                     TERPENE RESINS       25.3                                                                              --  23.5                                                                              25.3                                                                              28.3                                     ** FILLER **                                                                  CALCIUM CARBONATE    11.3                                                                              22.3                                                                              --  11.3                                                                              12.5                                     TALC                 --  --  15.6                                                                              --  --                                       ** SOFTENER **                                                                HYDROGENATED VEGETABLE                                                                             15.4                                                                              18.6                                                                              19.2                                                                              16.5                                                                              12.5                                     OIL                                                                           GLYCEROL MONOSTEARATE                                                                              4.8 10.6                                                                              8.9 4.8 4.7                                      LECITHIN             3.7 --  1.5 2.7 3.5                                      TOTAL PERCENT        100.0                                                                             100.0                                                                             100.0                                                                             100.0                                                                             100.0                                    __________________________________________________________________________

When the wax-free gum base of the invention is to be used in a regular(non-bubble) gum which does not have abhesive characteristics, the baseshould contain about 12 to about 30 weight percent natural elastomer,about 20 to about 40 weight percent synthetic elastomer, about 4 toabout 25 weight percent elastomer plasticizer, about 5 to about 25weight percent filler, about 15 to about 30 weight percent softener, 0to about 1 weight percent colorant and 0 to about 0.1 weight percentantioxidant. Specific embodiments of the wax-free gum base fitting thisdescription are provided in Examples 31-55 below:

                                      TABLE 2                                     __________________________________________________________________________    Wax-Free Gum Bases For Use                                                    In Chewing Gum Not Having Reduced Tack (Examples 31-55)                       __________________________________________________________________________    EXAMPLES 31-34                                                                IDENTIFICATION - EXAMPLE #:                                                   GENERIC INGREDIENTS  31  32  33  34                                           __________________________________________________________________________    ** NATURAL ELASTOMER **                                                       NATURAL GUM          22.0                                                                              26.5                                                                              23.4                                                                              25.1                                         ** SYNTHETIC ELASTOMER **                                                     STYRENE-BUTADIENE ELASTOMER  --  1.9                                          BUTYL (ISOPRENE-ISOBUTYLENE)                                                                       4.8 7.1 5.6 2.1                                          ELASTOMER                                                                     POLYISOBUTYLENE ELASTOMER                                                                          5.7 5.6 3.0 4.7                                          POLYVINYL ACETATE    16.4                                                                              18.7                                                                              19.8                                                                              24.8                                         ** ELASTOMER PLASTICIZERS **                                                  GLYCEROL ESTERS OF ROSIN                                                                           3.8 --  --  3.2                                          GLYCEROL ESTERS OF PART HYD                                                                        12.3                                                                              15.3                                                                              15.9                                                                              12.6                                         ROSIN                                                                         METHYL ESTERS OF ROSIN                                                                             --  --  --  2.1                                          TERPENE RESINS       --  --  --  --                                           ** FILLER **                                                                  CALCIUM CARBONATE    --  4.0 10.7                                                                              4.4                                          TALC                 7.1 --  --  --                                           ** SOFTENER **                                                                HYDROGENATED VEGETABLE OIL                                                                         21.8                                                                              18.4                                                                              16.8                                                                              12.6                                         GLYCEROL MONOSTEARATE                                                                              6.1 4.4 4.8 3.8                                          LECITHIN             --  --  --  2.7                                          TOTAL PERCENT        100.0                                                                             100.0                                                                             100.0                                                                             100.0                                        __________________________________________________________________________    EXAMPLES 35-38                                                                IDENTIFICATION - EXAMPLE #:                                                   GENERIC INGREDIENTS  35  36  37  38                                           __________________________________________________________________________    ** NATURAL ELASTOMER **                                                       NATIONAL GUM         22.8                                                                              18.2                                                                              23.5                                                                              17.6                                         ** SYNTHETIC ELASTOMER **                                                     STYRENE-BUTADIENE ELASTOMER                                                                        2.6 --                                                   BUTYL (ISOPRENE-ISOBUTYLENE)                                                                       4.1 6.9 8.8 10.2                                         ELASTOMER                                                                     POLYISOBUTYLENE ELASTOMER                                                                          3.2 5.4 3.3 2.1                                          POLYVINYL ACETATE    16.3                                                                              15.2                                                                              12.9                                                                              26.9                                         ** ELASTOMER PLASTICIZERS **                                                  GLYCEROL ESTERS OF ROSIN                                                                           6.9 --  8.5 11.7                                         GLYCEROL ESTERS OF PART HYD                                                                        11.8                                                                              12.5                                                                              5.5 4.8                                          ROSIN                                                                         METHYL ESTERS OF ROSIN                                                                             1.7 2.6 1.4 --                                           TERPENE RESINS       --  --  3.7 --                                           ** FILLER **                                                                  CALCIUM CARBONATE    9.3 16.0                                                                              --   --                                          TALC                 --  --  9.3 4.6                                          ** SOFTENER **                                                                HYDROGENATED VEGETABLE OIL                                                                         18.2                                                                              16.1                                                                              16.2                                                                              15.8                                         GLYCEROL MONOSTEARATE                                                                              --  7.1 5.7 6.3                                          LECITHIN             3.1 --  1.2 --                                           TOTAL PERCENT        100.0                                                                             100.0                                                                             100.0                                                                             100.0                                        __________________________________________________________________________    EXAMPLES 39-42                                                                IDENTIFICATION - EXAMPLE #:                                                   GENERIC INGREDIENTS  39  40  41  42                                           __________________________________________________________________________    ** NATURAL ELASTOMER **                                                       NATURAL GUM          12.9                                                                              18.5                                                                              15.7                                                                              22.6                                         ** SYNTHETIC ELASTOMER **                                                     STYRENE-BUTADIENE ELASTOMER                                                                        --  --  1.9 --                                           BUTYL (ISOPRENE-ISOBUTYLENE)                                                                       9.1 6.4 3.7 5.8                                          ELASTOMER                                                                     POLYISOBUTYLENE ELASTOMER                                                                          9.4 5.2 4.1 3.1                                          POLYVINYL ACETATE    10.7                                                                              15.4                                                                              26.2                                                                              20.4                                         ** ELASTOMER PLASTICIZERS **                                                  GLYCEROL ESTERS OF ROSIN                                                                           15.2                                                                              --  --  --                                           GLYCEROL ESTERS OF PART HYD                                                                        --  13.2                                                                              15.3                                                                              11.7                                         ROSIN                                                                         METHYL ESTERS OF ROSIN                                                                              -- 2.0 --  4.0                                          TERPENE RESINS       --  --  --  --                                           ** FILLER **                                                                  CALCIUM CARBONATE    20.6                                                                              18.5                                                                              12.2                                                                              11.6                                         TALC                 --  --  --  --                                           ** SOFTENER **                                                                HYDROGENATED VEGETABLE OIL                                                                         15.8                                                                              13.9                                                                              15.1                                                                              17.5                                         GLYCEROL MONOSTEARATE                                                                              6.3 6.9 5.8 3.3                                          LECITHIN             --  --  --  --                                           TOTAL PERCENT        100.0                                                                             100.0                                                                             100.0                                                                             100.0                                        __________________________________________________________________________    EXAMPLES 43-46                                                                IDENTIFICATION - EXAMPLE #:                                                   GENERIC INGREDIENTS  43  44  45  46                                           __________________________________________________________________________    ** NATURAL ELASTOMER **                                                       NATURAL GUM          23.7                                                                              22.1                                                                              21.1                                                                              22.2                                         ** SYNTHETIC ELASTOMER **                                                     STYRENE-BUTADIENE ELASTOMER                                                                        --  --  --  --                                           BUTYL (ISOPRENE-ISOBUTYLENE)                                                                       6.2 5.7 6.1 5.7                                          ELASTOMER                                                                     POLYISOBUTYLENE ELASTOMER                                                                          5.9 3.1 2.8 3.1                                          POLYVINYL ACETATE    23.7                                                                              22.0                                                                              18.0                                                                              22.0                                         ** ELASTOMER PLASTICIZERS **                                                  GLYCEROL ESTERS OF ROSIN                                                                           --  --  15.7                                                                              --                                           GLYCEROL ESTERS OF PART HYD                                                                        11.3                                                                              15.2                                                                              --  13.2                                         ROSIN                                                                         METHYL ESTERS OF ROSIN                                                                             2.9 --  --  2.0                                          TERPENE RESINS       2.8 --  --  --                                           ** FILLER **                                                                  CALCIUM CARBONATE    5.6 11.4                                                                              --  11.3                                         TALC                 --  --  15.4                                                                              --                                           ** SOFTENER **                                                                HYDROGENATED VEGETABLE OIL                                                                         12.1                                                                              17.2                                                                              15.1                                                                              17.2                                         GLYCEROL MONOSTEARATE                                                                              5.8 3.3 5.8 3.3                                          LECITHIN             --  --  --  --                                           TOTAL PERCENT        100.0                                                                             100.0                                                                             100.0                                                                             100.0                                        __________________________________________________________________________    EXAMPLES 47-50                                                                IDENTIFICATION - EXAMPLE #:                                                   GENERIC INGREDIENTS  47  48  49  50                                           __________________________________________________________________________    ** NATURAL ELASTOMER **                                                       NATURAL GUM          23.8                                                                              28.4                                                                              18.7                                                                              19.5                                         ** SYNTHETIC ELASTOMER **                                                     STYRENE-BUTADIENE ELASTOMER                                                                        --  --  --                                               BUTYL (ISOPRENE-ISOBUTYLENE)                                                                       3.1 5.4 6.9 8.2                                          ELASTOMER                                                                     POLYISOBUTYLENE ELASTOMER                                                                          7.7 3.1 5.5 2.7                                          POLYVINYL ACETATE    20.5                                                                              26.6                                                                              14.8                                                                              17.2                                         ** ELASTOMER PLASTICIZERS **                                                  GLYCEROL ESTERS OF ROSIN                                                                           --  --  --  20.0                                         GLYCEROL ESTERS OF PART HYD                                                                        10.4                                                                              11.4                                                                              15.5                                                                              --                                           ROSIN                                                                         METHYL ESTERS OF ROSIN                                                                             2.0 --  --  --                                           TERPENE RESINS       5.1 --  --  --                                           ** FILLER **                                                                  CALCIUM CARBONATE    --  9.1 17.9                                                                              9.6                                          TALC                 5.3 --  --  --                                           ** SOFTENER **                                                                HYDROGENATED VEGETABLE OIL                                                                         15.8                                                                              16.0                                                                              13.0                                                                              22.8                                         GLYCEROL MONOSTEARATE                                                                              6.3 --  7.7 --                                           LECITHIN             --  --  --  --                                           TOTAL PERCENT        100.0                                                                             100.0                                                                             100.0                                                                             100.0                                        __________________________________________________________________________    EXAMPLES 51-55                                                                IDENTIFICATION - EXAMPLE #:                                                   GENERIC INGREDIENTS  51  52  53  54  55                                       __________________________________________________________________________    ** NATURAL ELASTOMER **                                                       NATURAL GUM          14.4                                                                              18.2                                                                              25.2                                                                              25.2                                                                              26.7                                     ** SYNTHETIC ELASTOMER **                                                     STYRENE-BUTADIENE ELASTOMER                                                                        --  --  --  --  --                                       BUTYL (ISOPRENE-BUTYLENE)                                                                          9.1 6.8 2.4 3.5 3.2                                      ELASTOMER                                                                     POLYISOBUTYLENE ELASTOMER                                                                          3.6 5.4 4.9 5.7 6.1                                      POLYVINYL ACETATE    18.1                                                                              15.5                                                                              19.9                                                                              19.1                                                                              17.6                                     ** ELASTOMER PLASTICIZERS **                                                  GLYCEROL ESTERS OF ROSIN                                                                           11.9                                                                              --  15.6                                                                              --  --                                       GLYCEROL ESTERS OF PART HYD                                                                        13.0                                                                              12.7                                                                              --  15.6                                                                              15.6                                     ROSIN                                                                         METHYL ESTERS OF ROSIN                                                                             --  2.6 --  --  --                                       TERPENE RESINS       --  --  2.1 1.9 --                                       ** FILLER **                                                                  CALCIUM CARBONATE    14.1                                                                              15.7                                                                              --  --  --                                       TALC                 --  --  7.1 6.2 8.0                                       ** SOFTENER **                                                               HYDROGENATED VEGETABLE OIL                                                                         15.8                                                                              16.0                                                                              18.4                                                                              18.4                                                                              18.4                                     GLYCEROL MONOSTEARATE                                                                              --  7.1 4.4 4.4 2.8                                      LECITHIN             --  --  --  --  1.6                                      TOTAL PERCENT        100.0                                                                             100.0                                                                             100.0                                                                             100.0                                                                             100.0                                    __________________________________________________________________________

When the wax-free gum base of the invention is to be used in a bubblegum, the base should contain about 30 to about 60 weight percentsynthetic elastomer, about 5 to about 55 weight percent elastomerplasticizer, about 10 to about 35 weight percent filler, about 5 toabout 25 weight percent softener, 0 to about 1 weight percent colorantand 0 to about 0.1 weight percent antioxidant. Specific embodiments ofthe wax-free base for use in bubble gum are provided in Examples 56-74below.

                                      TABLE 3                                     __________________________________________________________________________    Wax-Free Gum                                                                  Bases For Use In Bubble Gum                                                   __________________________________________________________________________    EXAMPLES 56-60                                                                IDENTIFICATION - EXAMPLE #:                                                   GENERIC INGREDIENTS  56  57  58  59  60                                       __________________________________________________________________________    ** SYNTHETIC ELASTOMER **                                                     POLYISOBUTYLENE ELASTOMER                                                                          17.1                                                                              16.7                                                                              11.7                                                                              6.2 11.6                                     POLYVINYL ACETATE    24.9                                                                              25.6                                                                              29.4                                                                              30.9                                                                              31.5                                     ** ELASTOMER PLASTICIZERS **                                                  GLYCEROL ESTERS OF ROSIN                                                                           6.8 8.0 10.7                                                                              14.6                                                                              19.8                                     GLYCEROL ESTERS OF PART HYD                                                                        --  --  --  --  --                                       ROSIN                                                                         ** FILLER **                                                                  CALCIUM CARBONATE    --  --  --  --  --                                       TALC                 34.7                                                                              34.9                                                                              34.1                                                                              34.0                                                                              21.9                                     ** SOFTENER **                                                                GLYCERYL TRIACETATE  4.6 3.9 4.4 4.7 5.0                                      GLYCEROL MONOSTEARATE                                                                              5.8 5.7 4.3 4.6 4.9                                      ACETYLATED MONOGLYCERIDE                                                                           6.1 5.2 5.4 5.0 5.3                                      TOTAL PERCENT        100.0                                                                             100.0                                                                             100.0                                                                             100.0                                                                             100.0                                    __________________________________________________________________________    EXAMPLES 61-64                                                                IDENTIFICATION - EXAMPLE #:                                                   GENERIC INGREDIENTS  61  62  63  64                                           __________________________________________________________________________    ** SYNTHETIC ELASTOMER **                                                     POLYISOBUTYLENE ELASTOMER                                                                          15.7                                                                              13.2                                                                              5.4 7.9                                          POLYVINYL ACETATE    32.1                                                                              33.2                                                                              34.8                                                                              34.2                                         ** ELASTOMER PLASTICIZERS **                                                  GLYCEROL ESTERS OF ROSIN                                                                           27.4                                                                              22.6                                                                              16.3                                                                              14.8                                         GLYCEROL ESTERS OF PART HYD                                                                        --  --  --  --                                           ROSIN                                                                         ** FILLER **                                                                  CALCIUM CARBONATE    --  --  30.2                                                                              29.8                                         TALC                 10.1                                                                              17.3                                                                              --  --                                           ** SOFTENER **                                                                GLYCERYL TRIACETATE  4.9 5.0 5.3 5.3                                          GLYCEROL MONOSTEARATE                                                                              4.7 4.1 5.9 5.0                                          ACETYLATED MONOGLYCERIDE                                                                           5.1 4.6 2.1 3.0                                          TOTAL PERCENT        100.0                                                                             100.0                                                                             100.0                                                                             100.0                                        __________________________________________________________________________    EXAMPLES 65-69                                                                IDENTIFICATION EXAMPLE #:                                                     GENERIC INGREDIENTS  65  66  67  68  69                                       __________________________________________________________________________    ** SYNTHETIC ELASTOMER **                                                     POLYISOBUTYLENE ELASTOMER                                                                          17.2                                                                              13.0                                                                              11.6                                                                              11.6                                                                               7.9                                     POLYVINYL ACETATE    37.3                                                                              37.1                                                                              39.9                                                                              41.2                                                                              34.2                                     ** ELASTOMER PLASTICIZERS **                                                  GLYCEROL ESTERS OF ROSIN                                                                           11.2                                                                              --  --  --  --                                       GLYCEROL ESTERS OF PART HYD                                                                        --  19.8                                                                              19.9                                                                              19.4                                                                              14.8                                     ROSIN                                                                         ** FILLER **                                                                  CALCIUM CARBONATE    20.6                                                                              16.5                                                                              15.0                                                                              --  29.8                                     TALC                 --  --  --  14.0                                                                              --                                       ** SOFTENER **                                                                GLYCERYL TRIACETATE  5.6 5.6 6.0 6.2 5.3                                      GLYCEROL MONOSTEARATE                                                                              8.1 8.0 7.6 7.6 5.0                                      ACETYLATED MONOGLYCERIDE                                                                           --  --  --  --  3.0                                      TOTAL PERCENT        100.0                                                                             100.0                                                                             100.0                                                                             100.0                                                                             100.0                                    __________________________________________________________________________    EXAMPLES 70-74                                                                IDENTIFICATION - EXAMPLE #:                                                   GENERIC INGREDIENTS  70  71  72  73  74                                       __________________________________________________________________________    ** SYNTHETIC ELASTOMER **                                                     POLYISOBUTYLENE ELASTOMER                                                                          11.6                                                                              10.9                                                                              11.6                                                                              12.4                                                                              11.9                                     POLYVINYL ACETATE    37.8                                                                              37.5                                                                              31.4                                                                              31.0                                                                              37.0                                     ** ELASTOMER PLASTICIZERS **                                                  GLYCEROL ESTERS OF ROSIN                                                                           --  --  --  --  --                                       GLYCEROL ESTERS OF PART HYD                                                                        19.8                                                                              20.6                                                                              19.8                                                                              21.1                                                                              20.3                                     ROSIN                                                                         ** FILLER **                                                                  CALCIUM CARBONATE    --  --  --  --  --                                       TALC                 17.0                                                                              19.5                                                                              22.7                                                                              22.2                                                                              16.7                                     ** SOFTENER **                                                                GLYCERYL TRIACETATE  5.6 5.2 5.9 4.3 5.7                                      GLYCEROL MONOSTEARATE                                                                              3.2 3.1 2.9 2.5 4.5                                      ACETYLATED MONOGLYCERIDE                                                                           5.0 3.2 5.8 6.5 3.9                                      TOTAL PERCENT        100.0                                                                             100.0                                                                             100.0                                                                             100.0                                                                             100.0                                    __________________________________________________________________________

The wax-free gum base of the invention constitutes about 5-95 weightpercent of the chewing gum, more typically 10-50 weight percent of thechewing gum, and most commonly 20-35 weight percent of the chewing gum.The gum base is typically prepared by adding an amount of the elastomer,elastomer plasticizers and filler to a heated sigma blade mixer with afront to rear blade speed ratio of typically 2:1. The initial amounts ofingredients are determined by the working capacity of the mixing kettlein order to attain a proper consistency. After the initial ingredientshave massed homogeneously, the balance of the elastomer plasticizer,filler, softeners, etc. are added in a sequential manner until acompletely homogeneous molten mass is attained. This can usually beachieved in one to four hours, depending on the formulation. The finalmass temperature can be between 60° C. and 150° C., more preferablybetween 80° C. and 120° C. The completed molten mass is emptied from themixing kettle into coated or lined pans, extruded or cast into anydesirable shape and allowed to cool and solidify.

Although the above method for making base is typical and applies to bothchewing and bubble bases, it has been found that there is a preferredmethod for making the bubble bases described in this invention.

First, all of the polyvinyl acetate and portions of the polyisobutyleneand filler are added and blended in a heated sigma blade mixer.Softeners such as glyceryl triacetate and/or acetylated monoglycerideare then added along with a second portion of each of polyisobutyleneand filler. The acetylated monoglyceride may be added at the end of theprocess if desired and still not alter the chewing texture of the gummade from the base.

Next, the rest of the polyisobutylene and filler are added along withthe elastomer plasticizer. Finally, the remaining ingredients such asglycerol monostearate and antioxidants may be added. Colorant may beadded at any time during the mixing process and is preferably added atthe start.

There are some variations to the above described preferred method whichin no way limits the method as described. Those skilled in the art ofgum base manufacture may be able to appreciate any minor variations.

In producing wax-containing gum bases high in polyvinyl acetate, andparticularly those high in high molecular weight polyvinyl acetate, itis necessary to improve blending of the ingredients by removing the heatapplied to the sigma blade mixer at some point in the process. Thisreduces the temperature of the gum base and causes greater compatibilityof its ingredients. In the inventive gum base process for making theinventive gum base free of wax, there is no need to remove the heatapplied. The degree of incompatibility is greatly reduced since there isno wax present. Nevertheless, heat is preferably removed at about 30minutes to about 90 minutes into the mixing time of the base productionprocess.

THE CHEWING GUMS OF THE INVENTION

In addition to the water-insoluble gum base, a typical chewing gumcomposition includes a water-soluble bulking agent and one or moreflavoring agents. The wax-free gum base of the invention can be used inany typical chewing gum composition.

The water-soluble bulking agent of the chewing gum may includesofteners, bulk sweeteners, high-intensity sweeteners, flavoring agentsand combinations thereof. Softeners are added to the chewing gum inorder to optimize the chewability and mouth feel of the gum. Thesofteners, which are also known as plasticizers or plasticizing agents,generally constitute between about 0.5-15% by weight of the chewing gum.The softeners may include glycerin, lecithin, glycerol monostearate,glycerol triacetate, hydroxylated lecithin, agar, carrageenan, andcombinations thereof. Aqueous sweetener solutions, syrups, and the like,such as those containing sorbitol, hydrogenated starch hydrolyzates,corn syrup and combinations thereof, may also be used as softeners andbinding agents in the wax-free chewing gums of this invention.

Bulk sweeteners may constitute between 5-95% by weight of the chewinggum, more typically 20-80% by weight of the chewing gum and mostcommonly 30-60% by weight of the chewing gum. Bulk sweeteners mayinclude both sugar and sugarless sweeteners and components. Sugarsweeteners may include saccharide containing components including butnot limited to sucrose, dextrose, maltose, dextrin, dried invert sugar,fructose, levulose, galactose, corn syrup solids, high maltose syrup,invert/high fructose syrup, maltotriose, glyceraldehyde, erythrose,xylose, lactose, leucrose, L-sugars, fructooligosaccharide and lowcalorie bulking/binding agents such as indigestible dextrin, guar gumhydrolyzate, oligofructose, polydextrose, and the like, alone or incombination. Sugarless sweeteners include components with sweeteningcharacteristics but are devoid of the commonly known sugars. Sugarlesssweeteners include but are not limited to sugar alcohols such assorbitol, mannitol, xylitol, hydrogenated starch hydrolyzates, maltitol,lactitol, erythritol, cellobiitol, and the like, alone or incombination.

High-intensity sweeteners may also be present and are commonly used withsugarless sweeteners. When used, high-intensity sweeteners typicallyconstitute between 0.001-5% by weight of the chewing gum, preferablybetween 0.01-1% by weight of the chewing gum. Typically, high-intensitysweeteners are at least 20 times sweeter than sucrose. These may includebut are not limited to sucralose, aspartame, salts of acesulfame,alitame, saccharin and its salts, cyclamic acid and its salts,glycyrrhizin, dihydrochalcones, thaumatin, monellin, stevia and thelike, alone or in combination.

In this invention, it is advantageous to use at least one controlledrelease sweetener with other optional active sweetening and bulkingingredients. The controlled release sweetener can be incorporated intothe wax-free chewing gum after being modified, such as by encapsulatingthe sweetener, in order to modify its release. The most common ways ofmodifying the release of the active sweetening ingredients include spraydrying, spray chilling, fluid-bed coating, coacervation, absorption,extrusion encapsulation, and other standard encapsulating techniques.The active sweetener ingredient may be modified in a multiple stepprocess comprising any of the processes noted. Encapsulating agents thatcan be used include polyvinyl acetate, acrylic polymers and copolymers,carboxyvinyl polymer, polyamides, polystyrene, polyvinyl pyrrolidone,natural waxes, zein, shellac, agar, alginates, a wide range of cellulosederivatives including ethyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, sodiumhydroxymethyl cellulose, and hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose and sodiumcarboxy methyl cellulose, dextrin, gelatin, modified starches,maltodextrin, gum arabic, xanthan gum, gelatin and pectin.

Controlled release of sweeteners is then obtained by selectingsweeteners that are, by their nature, fast release sweeteners and thosewhich are, by their nature, slow release sweeteners, and blending themwith the wax-free gum bases of the invention to obtain the wax-freechewing gum of this invention having both fast flavor release tocompliment normally faster flavor release from wax-free chewing gums,and controlled sweetness (slower) release to sustain consumer pleasureduring the chew. The blend is accomplished so as to provide controlledtotal sweetener release in a way so as to give an available sweetenerprofile comparable to, or similar to, the flavor profile available tothe consumer. This perception of available flavor and sweetener profileprovides enhanced consumer pleasure not only during the initialsweetener and flavor release, but throughout the chew.

Similarly, a sweetener which is normally a fast release sweetener may bemodified to become a slow release sweetener, or a normally slow releasesweetener may be modified to become a fast release sweetener. These maythen be used in those combinations which provide effective sweetnessrelease for the wax-free sweetners of this invention.

Combinations of sugar and/or sugarless sweetners may be used in thewax-free chewing gum. The sweetener may also function in the chewing gumin whole or in part as a water-soluble bulking agent. Additionally, thesoftener may also provide additional sweetness such as with aqueoussugar or alditol solutions.

Fast release sweeteners contemplated include such low-intensitysweeteners as sucrose, dried invert sugar, fructose, xylitol, andcombinations thereof. Fast release sweeteners also include mosthigh-intensity sweeteners, for example, those sweeteners selected fromaspartame, acesulfame K, alitame, saccharin, cyclamate, used eitheralone, or in combination. However, these high-intensity sweeteners maybe modified, as will be seen later, to become controlled release (orslow release) sweeteners.

Fast release sweeteners, as contemplated above, release about 60% oftheir sweetness, or more, in the first five (5) minutes of chewing.Further, the fast release sweeteners normally have a sweetness intensityat least about equal to, or greater than, that provided by sucrose.Therefore, these sweetners provide a relatively high impact of sweetnessduring the first three (3) minutes of chewing.

Fast release sweeteners may be found as natural sweeteners or they maybe synthesized sweeteners. They may be treated or modified to providefor rapid or fast sweetness release. For example, sucralose, normally aslow release sweetener, when spray dried with maltodextrin gives a fastrelease sweetener.

Sweeteners which do not meet the requirements set forth above for fastrelease sweeteners are referred to herein as slow release sweetners. Theslow release sweeteners may be natural or synthetic. They may be lowsweetness, or high sweetness ingredients. They may be fast releasesweeteners formulated, reacted or modified in such a way as to becomeslow release sweeteners.

Such slow release sweeteners include, but are not necessarily limitedto, sorbitol, mannitol, dextrose, maltose, corn syrup solids, galactose,dextrin, hydrogenated starch hydrolyzates, maltitol, isomaltitol and thehigh-intensity sweetners sucralose, thaumatin, hydrochalcone andmonellin. The slow release, or controlled release sweetners may alsoinclude the encapsulated, agglomerated, or absorbed sweetners,including, for example, encapsulated high intensity, normally fastrelease sweeteners.

For example, Yatka, in International Application No. PCT/US90/06038(International Publ. No. WO 91/03147) taught a method of controllingrelease of stevioside in chewing gum. Stevioside, normally a fastrelease sweetener, was converted into a controlled release (or slowrelease) sweetener by coating, encapsulating, agglomerating, entrappingby absorption, or treating by multiple steps of encapsulating,agglomerating, and absorption. Ingredients such as the encapsulatingagents mentioned above may be used.

Yatka, in International Application No. PCT/US88/04400 (InternationalPubl. No. WO 89/03170) also teaches similar methods of controllingrelease of Acesulfame K in chewing gums. Also, in InternationalApplication No. PCT/US89/01269 (International Publ. No. WO 90/06061),Yatka demonstrates controlled release of Alitame in chewing gum.

Similar controlled release sweeteners including sucralose; Yatka,International Application No. PCT/US89/05296 (International Publ. No. WO90/07859), Glycyrrhizin; Yatka, International Application No.PCT/US90/02255 (International Publ. No. WO 90/07864); andDihydrochalcones; Yatka, International Application No. PCT/US90/04002(International Publ. No. 90/13994) have been taught.

In addition to the above International Patent Applications/Publications,all of which are incorporated herein by reference, the following U.S.patents have taught various techniques of providing for either slowedrelease of sweeteners from, or in some cases, modified flavor releasefrom, as providing for improved shelf life of, chewing gums or otherdigestible or consumable products:

U.S. Pat. No. 4,139,639, Bahosky et al.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,230,687, Sair et al.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,384,004, Cea et al.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,386,106, Merritt et al.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,515,769, Merritt et al.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,597,970, Sharma et al.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,634,593, Stroz et al.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,986,991, Yatka et al.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,039,530, Yatka et al.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,041,294, Patel et al.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,100,678, Reed et al.

As those familiar with the art will recognize, either or both fastrelease and slow release sweeteners may serve as bulking agents orbinders in chewing gum formulations, and the same is true for ourwax-free chewing gums. The wax-free chewing gums do, however, preferablycontain additional binding agents, since binding is one of the functionsserved by wax, when present in chewing gums.

Flavoring agents should generally be present in the chewing gum in anamount within the range of about 0.1-15% by weight of the chewing gum,preferably between about 0.2-5% by weight of the chewing gum, mostpreferably between about 0.5-3% by weight of the chewing gum. Flavoringagents may include essential oils, synthetic flavors or mixtures thereofincluding but not limited to oils derived from plants and fruits such ascitrus oils, fruit essences, peppermint oil, spearmint oil, other mintoils, clove oil, oil of wintergreen, anise and the like. Artificialflavoring agents and components may also be used. Natural and artificialflavoring agents may be combined in any sensorially acceptable fashion.

Optional ingredients such as colors, food acidulants, emulsifiers,pharmaceutical agents, vitamins, and additional flavoring agents mayalso be included in chewing gum.

Chewing gum is generally manufactured by sequentially adding the variouschewing gum ingredients to any commercially available mixer known in theart. After the ingredients have been thoroughly mixed, the gum mass isdischarged from the mixer and shaped into the desired form such as byrolling into sheets and cutting into sticks, extruding into chunks, orcasting into pellets. Generally, the ingredients are mixed by firstmelting the gum base and adding it to the running mixer. The gum basemay alternatively be melted in the mixer. Color and emulsifiers can beadded at this time.

A softener such as glycerin can be added next along with syrup and partof the bulk portion. Further parts of the bulk portion may then be addedto the mixer. Flavoring agents are typically added with the final partof the bulk portion. The entire mixing process typically takes from fiveto fifteen minutes, although longer mixing times are sometimes required.Those skilled in the art will recognize that variations of this mixingprocedure, or other mixing procedures, may be followed.

The following formulas are illustrative of types of products which maybe produced. All ingredient levels are expressed in weight percent.

Examples 75-93 illustrate non-tack and reduced-tack chewing gums of thepresent invention. As can be seen, there is much latitude in theselection of flavors, sweeteners and ingredient levels. Examples 75-80illustrate use of the invention with sugar gums while Examples 81-91describe sugarless gums. Preferably, the chewing gums manufacturedaccording to the invention will have a combination of slow release andfast release sweeteners, which combination provides for comparable, orsimilar sweetness release profiles when measured with flavor releaseprofiles. Most preferably, the combination is created such that theperceived rate of sweetness release is similar to the perceived rate offlavor release. Sweetener release profile is a measure of the sensoryperception of sweetener intensity released per unit time. Flavor releaseprofile is similarly defined.

Encapsulated sweeteners may be used to extend sweetness and flavor andto protect the sensitive sweeteners from degradation during storage.Certain naturally slow release sweeteners, such as sucralose, may beencapsulated or codissolved and spray-dried to provide fast release, ifthe powdered or crystalline sweetener would normally provide for slowrelease. Low moisture products having moisture levels below 2% are alsowithin the scope of these inventions, for example in Examples 83 and 85which follow.

                                      TABLE 4                                     __________________________________________________________________________    Sugar-Containing                                                              Non-Tack And Reduced Tack Gums                                                EXAMPLES 75-80                                                                Example 75     76    77      78     79     80                                 __________________________________________________________________________    Base    19     17    11      19     16     16                                 Example #                                                                     Base %  20.12  23.20 27.20   21.22  22.10  24.00                              Flavor  0.20   1.10  1.55    0.10   0.10   0.90                                       (Spray Dried                                                                         (Cinnamon)                                                                          (Wintergreen)                                                                         (Spray Dried                                                                         (Peppermint)                                                                         (Peppermint)                               Peppermint)          Menthol)                                         Flavor  0.91   --    0.10    0.85   0.90   0.10                                       (Spearmint)  (Spray Dried                                                                          (Spearmint)                                                                          (Spearmint)                                                                          (Spearmint)                                             Menthol)                                                 Sugar   58.70  60.96 55.60   60.60  60.34  61.19                              Sorbitol                                                                              1.20   0.68  --      0.68   0.70   --                                 Encapsulated                                                                          0.10   0.30  --      0.30   0.41   --                                 Acesulfame K                                                                  Encapsulated                                                                          0.10   --    0.2     --     --     0.1                                Aspartame                                                                     Calcium 3.10   --    --      --     --     --                                 Carbonate                                                                     Corn Syrup                                                                            13.47  12.11 13.71   14.80  14.00  12.10                              Lecithin                                                                              --     0.15  0.10    0.15   0.15   0.20                               Glycerin                                                                              2.10   1.50  1.54    1.30   1.30   1.41                               TOTAL   100    100   100     100    100    100                                __________________________________________________________________________

                                      TABLE 5                                     __________________________________________________________________________    Sugarless Non-Tack                                                            And Reduced Tack Gums                                                         __________________________________________________________________________    EXAMPLES 81-86                                                                Example 81     82   83    84     85    86                                     __________________________________________________________________________    Base     3      19   7     24     24    8                                     Example #                                                                     Base %  24.00  27.11                                                                              21.21 29.48  22.58 18.11                                  Flavor  1.07   0.98 0.97  1.15   1.47  1.00                                           (Citrus Oils)                                                                        (Pepper-                                                                           (Spearmint                                                                          (Peppermint                                                                          (Cinnamon                                                                           (Winter-                                              mint)                                                                              Oil)  Oil)   Flavor)                                                                             green Oil)                             Flavor  --     0.20 0.15  0.21   --    0.27                                                  (Spray                                                                             Peppermint                                                                          (Spearmint   (Peppermint                                           Dried                                                                              Oil)  Oil)         Oil)                                                  Menthol)                                                       Sorbitol                                                                              61.37  55.08                                                                              59.79 55.15  60.01 57.53                                  Calcium --     --   2.11  --     2.00  4.70                                   Carbonate                                                                     Sorbitol                                                                              6.42   --   --    --     --    --                                     Solution                                                                      Coevaporated                                                                          --     9.16 --    8.11   --    8.88                                   Lycasin                                                                       (7.5% water,                                                                  25% glycerin)                                                                 Glycerin                                                                              4.70   4.11 12.11 3.11   11.61 7.10                                   Mannitol                                                                              2.10   3.10 3.11  2.66   2.00  2.00                                   Encapsulated                                                                          0.19   --   0.25  --     --    0.21                                   Aspartame                                                                     Free    0.05   --   0.10  --     --    --                                     Aspartame                                                                     Encapsulated                                                                          --     0.05 --    0.10   --    --                                     Alitame                                                                       Free Alitame                                                                          --     --   --    0.03   --    0.10                                   Encapsulated                                                                          --     --   --    --     0.21  --                                     Sucralose                                                                     Free Sucralose                                                                        --     0.08 --    --     0.02  --                                     Lecithin                                                                              0.10   0.15 0.20  --     0.10  0.10                                   TOTAL   100    100  100   100    100   100                                    __________________________________________________________________________    EXAMPLES 87-91                                                                Example              87   88   89   90   91                                   __________________________________________________________________________    Base Example #        3    19   13   52   44                                  Base %               24.7 19.2 24.0 19.2 19.2                                 Sorbitol             6.0  --   --   --   --                                   Mannitol             1.0  --   --   --   --                                   Corn Syrup           --   6.0  24.5 18.5 6.0                                  Dextrose             --   9.8  --   9.8  9.7                                  Lactose              --   5.0  --   --   5.0                                  Glycerin             16.4 9.8  0.4  1.4  8.9                                  Lecithin             0.2  --   --   --   --                                   Flavor               1.4  0.9  1.0  0.9  0.9                                  Oligofructose        --   50.0 50.0 --   --                                   Fructooligosaccharide                                                                              --   --   --   50.0 50.0                                 Color                 0.05                                                                              --   --   --   --                                   Aspartame             0.25                                                                              0.2  --   0.1  0.2                                  Alitame              --   --   0.1  0.1  0.1                                  Low Mol. Weight Indigestible Dextrin                                                               50.0 --   --   --   --                                   TOTAL                100  100  100  100  100                                  __________________________________________________________________________

Examples 92-97 are sugarless products made with the non-reduced-tackbases of the present invention. Examples 98-103 are equivalent sugarproducts.

                                      TABLE 6                                     __________________________________________________________________________    Regular Tack Sugarless Gums                                                   EXAMPLES 92-97                                                                Example 92     93     94    95    96     97                                   __________________________________________________________________________    Base     32     44     51    36    52     44                                  Example #                                                                     Base %  21.76  22.07  24.00 20.97 26.00  20.08                                Flavor  0.92   0.77   0.83  0.99  0.97   1.04                                         (Peppermint                                                                          (Spearmint                                                                           (Spearmint                                                                          (Cinnamon                                                                           (Peppermint                                                                          (Peppermint                                  Oil)   Oil)   Oil)  Flavor)                                                                             Oil)   Oil)                                 Flavor  --     0.24   --    --    --     0.16                                                (Peppermint               (Spray Dried                                        Oil)                      Menthol)                             Sorbitol                                                                              46.44  --     --    63.61 51.40  --                                   Coevaporated                                                                          8.47   7.84   11.20 7.76  --     --                                   Lycasin (7.5%                                                                 Water, 25%                                                                    Glycerin)                                                                     Glycerin                                                                              5.19   4.91   2.10  4.20  12.00  --                                   Mannitol                                                                              1.77   --     --    2.01  3.11   --                                   Xylitol 15.11  --     12.11 --    6.27   78.16                                Palatinit                                                                             --     63.97  49.60 --    --     --                                   (Hydrogenated                                                                 Isomaltulose)                                                                 Aspartame                                                                             0.1    --     --    0.14  --     0.14                                 Encapsulated                                                                          --     --     --    0.22  --     0.22                                 Aspartame                                                                     Alitame --     0.02   0.02  --    0.1    --                                   Encapsulated                                                                          --     0.04   0.04  --    --     --                                   Alitame                                                                       Sucralose                                                                             0.11   --     --    --    0.15   --                                   Lecithin                                                                              0.13   0.14   0.10  0.10  --     0.20                                 TOTAL   100    100    100   100   100    100                                  __________________________________________________________________________

                                      TABLE 7                                     __________________________________________________________________________    Regular Tack Sugar Gums                                                       EXAMPLES 98-103                                                               Example 98     99    100    101    102     103                                __________________________________________________________________________    Base    67     52    44     39     51      40                                 Example #                                                                     Base %  22.38  20.60 20.08  23.11  20.02   21.01                              Flavor   0.89   0.58  0.86   0.91   1.21    0.98                                      (Peppermint                                                                          (Spearmint                                                                          (Peppermint                                                                          (Peppermint                                                                          (Fruit Flavor)                                                                        (Winter-                                   Oil)   Oil)  Oil)   Oil            green                                                                         Flavor)                            Flavor  --     --    --      0.21  --      0.20                                                           (Spearmint     (Spray Dried                                                   Oil)           Menthol)                           Encapsulated                                                                          0.1    --    --      0.05  --      --                                 Aspartame                                                                     Encapsulated                                                                          --     0.1   --      0.05   0.15   0.1                                Acesulfame K                                                                  Sucralose                                                                             --     --    0.1    --     --       0.09                              Sugar   58.29  59.39 62.56  59.97  63.59   62.41                              Corn Syrup                                                                            17.20  18.50 15.40  14.70  13.88   14.19                              Glycerin                                                                               1.09   0.83  1.00   1.00   1.05     1.02                             Lecithin                                                                               0.05  --    --     --      .10    --                                 TOTAL   100    100   100    100    100     100                                __________________________________________________________________________

Examples 104-115 are examples of inventive coated pellet gums made withnon-wax bases. The gum products of these examples are formed intopellets or balls for subsequent coating. Examples 104-109 are sugarpellets which could be coated with sugar syrups. Such syrups may containmodified starch (0 to 6.0%), compatible flavors and colors (0 to 0.30%),vegetable gums such as gum arabic and cellulose derivatives such ashydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (0 to 20%) in addition to sucrose orstarch hydrolyzate in an aqueous solution.

Examples 110-115 are sugarless pellets which can be coated with sugaralcohol solutions such as those of sorbitol, xylitol and palatinit.These syrups may also contain the same modifiers listed above for sugarsyrups.

In both cases (sugar and sugarless) dry coating agent (sugar or sugaralcohol) may be added between layers of coating syrup, a process knownas dry charging or soft panning.

Coating may be carried out by any suitable process, most often using aconventional pan, side vented pans, high capacity pans such as thosemade by Driam or Dumouline, or by continuous panning techniques.

                                      TABLE 8                                     __________________________________________________________________________    Sugar Pellet Gums For Coating                                                 EXAMPLES 104-109                                                              Example 104   105  106   107     108    109                                   __________________________________________________________________________    Base     40    36   37    51      52    47                                    Example #                                                                     Base %  24.32 24.28                                                                              24.30 24.27   25.17  24.33                                 Flavor   0.55  0.73                                                                               2.56 0.77    0.47    0.61                                         (Spearmint                                                                          (Pepper-                                                                           (Licorice                                                                           (Fruit Flavor)                                                                        (Spearmint                                                                           (Spearmint                                    Oil)  mint Oil)                                                                          Powder)       Oil)   Oil)                                  Flavor  --    --   0.60  --      0.15   --                                                       (Menthol/     (Peppermint                                                     Anethol       Oil)                                         Sugar   52.92 52.77                                                                              50.84 52.76   52.49  52.74                                 Corn Syrup                                                                            22.16 22.12                                                                              21.60 22.11   21.62  22.22                                 Encapsulated                                                                           0.05 --   --    --      0.05   --                                    Alitame                                                                       Encapsulated                                                                          --    --   0.1   --      --      0.05                                 Acesulfame K                                                                  Encapsulated                                                                          --    0.1  --    --      0.05    0.05                                 Aspartame                                                                     Sucralose                                                                             --    --   --    0.1     --     --                                    TOTAL   100   100  100   100     100    100                                   __________________________________________________________________________

                                      TABLE 9                                     __________________________________________________________________________    Sugarless Pellet Gums For Coating                                             EXAMPLES 110-115                                                              Example #                                                                            110   111   112    113  114    115                                     __________________________________________________________________________    Base    33    26    40     29   35    35                                      Example                                                                       Base % 31.01 33.00 32.71  33.03                                                                              30.97  31.45                                   Flavor 1.20  1.30  1.09   1.50 1.01   1.31                                           (Spearmint                                                                          (Pepper-                                                                            (Spearmint                                                                           (Fruit                                                                             (Peppermint                                                                          (Fruit                                         Oil)  mint Oil)                                                                           Oil)   Flavor)                                                                            Oil)   Flavor)                                 Flavor --    0.50  0.17   0.50 0.21   --                                                   (Menthol)                                                                           (Peppermint                                                                          (Lemon                                                                             (Spray Dried                                                      Oil)   Flavor)                                                                            Menthol)                                       Sorbitol                                                                             51.46 44.06 45.56  43.81                                                                              46.69  45.99                                   Calcium                                                                              10.01 13.00 12.16  12.93                                                                              13.04  13.33                                   Carbonate                                                                     Glycerin                                                                             6.14  8.00  8.00   7.98 7.82   7.30                                    Encapsulated                                                                         0.12  0.14  0.21   0.25 0.18   0.62                                    Aspartame                                                                     Free   0.06  --    0.10   --   0.08   --                                      Aspartame                                                                     TOTAL  100   100   100    100  100    100                                     __________________________________________________________________________

Inventive bubble gums may be prepared using the bubble gum bases of thepresent invention such as those listed in Examples 56-74. Illustrativeformulations are given as Examples 116-127. Examples 116-121 are sugarbubble gum formulas. Note that Examples 117 and 121 use blends of twoinventive bases. This is a technique to optimize processing and textureproperties while minimizing the necessity of maintaining different basesfor each product and without having additional custom bases compounded.Examples 122-127 are sugarless bubble gum formulas.

                                      TABLE 10                                    __________________________________________________________________________    Sugar Bubble Gums                                                             EXAMPLES 116-121                                                              Example 116     117  118     119   120    121                                 __________________________________________________________________________    Base    69      72/74                                                                              74      72    59     72/69                               Example #                                                                     Base %  24.02   11.00/                                                                             22.20   20.01 19.99  9.00/                                               11.00                     13.00                               Flavor  0.80    0.85 0.60    0.60  0.00   0.80                                        (Fruit Flavor)                                                                        (Cream                                                                             (Lemon Lime)                                                                          (Blueberry)                                                                         (Strawberry)                                                                         (Cream                                              Soda)                     Soda)                               Flavor  --      0.03 --      --    --     0.02                                                (Vanilla)                 (Vanilla)                           Sugar   55.05   59.44                                                                              55.85   58.90 59.65  57.88                               Corn Syrup                                                                            17.68   16.53                                                                              19.54   17.99 16.88  17.44                               Lecithin                                                                              0.60    0.35 0.40    0.51  0.50   0.45                                Glycerin                                                                              1.74    0.70 0.40    0.81  1.49   1.31                                Color   0.06    --   0.01    0.48  0.08   --                                          (Red)        (Green) (Blue)                                                                              (Red)                                      Citric Acid                                                                           --      --   0.90    0.60  0.70   --                                  Encapsulated                                                                          0.05    --   --      --    0.05   --                                  Alitame                                                                       Encapsulated                                                                          --      0.1  --      --    0.05   0.05                                Aspartame                                                                     Encapsulated                                                                          --      --   0.1     --    --     0.05                                Acesulfame K                                                                  Sucralose                                                                             --      --   --      0.1   --     --                                  TOTAL   100     100  100     100   100    100                                 __________________________________________________________________________

                                      TABLE 11                                    __________________________________________________________________________    Sugarless Bubble Gums                                                         EXAMPLES 122-127                                                              Example 122     123  124   125    126  127                                    __________________________________________________________________________    Base    63      64   69    71     71   60                                     Example #                                                                     Base %  24.00   24.59                                                                              28.00 29.12  30.10                                                                              26.71                                  Flavor  1.20    1.41 1.71  1.34   1.11 1.23                                           (Fruit Flavor)                                                                        (Fruit                                                                             (Grape                                                                              (Strawberry                                                                          (Lemon                                                                             (Peach                                                 Flavor)                                                                            Flavor)                                                                             Flavor)                                                                              Flavor)                                                                            Flavor)                                Sorbitol                                                                              51.47   51.78                                                                              46.03 49.65  46.39                                                                              49.33                                  Calcium 5.00    4.31 --    --     --   --                                     Carbonate                                                                     Talc    --      --   3.71  3.44   1.99 3.44                                   Lecithin                                                                              1.00    0.91 0.84  0.61   0.86 0.75                                   Citric Acid                                                                           --      --   --    0.31   0.31 --                                     Malic Acid                                                                            --      --   0.21  0.11   0.31 0.16                                   Tartaric Acid                                                                         --      --   0.36  0.11   --   --                                     Glycerin                                                                              17.00   10.00                                                                              9.00  15.09  8.21 12.00                                  Lycasin/                                                                              --      6.79 9.61  --     10.41                                                                              6.00                                   Glycerin                                                                      Color   0.02    0.01 0.06  0.02   0.05 0.01                                           (Red)   (Red)                                                                              (Red/Blue)                                                                          (Red)  (Yellow)                                                                           (Red)                                  Encapsulated                                                                          0.27    --   0.41  --     --   0.31                                   Aspartame                                                                     Free    0.04    0.1  0.06  --     0.17 0.06                                   Aspartame                                                                     Acesulfame K                                                                          --      --   --    0.11   --   --                                     Encapsulated                                                                          --      0.10 --    --     --   --                                     Alitame                                                                       Sucralose                                                                             --      --   --    0.09   0.09 --                                     TOTAL   100     100  100   100    100  100                                    __________________________________________________________________________

While the embodiments of the invention disclosed herein are presentlyconsidered to be preferred, various modifications and improvements canbe made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.The scope of the invention is indicated in the appended claims, and allchanges that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of theclaims are intended to be embraced therein.

We claim:
 1. A substantially wax-free chewing gum having controlled sweetener release comprising a wax-free chewing gum base comprising:

    ______________________________________                                         Ingredient     Wt. Percent of Gum Base                                         ______________________________________                                         Synthetic Elastomer                                                                           about 20-60 weight percent,                                     Natural Elastomer                                                                             about 0-30 weight percent,                                      Elastomer Plasticizer                                                                         about 5-55 weight percent,                                      Filler         about 4-40 weight percent,                                      Fats, Oils, Softeners                                                                         about 5-40 weight percent;                                      ______________________________________                                    

said wax-free chewing gum further comprising at least one flavoring agent, at least one water-soluble bulking agent, and at least one controlled release sweetener ingredient.
 2. The chewing gum of claim 1, wherein the elastomers comprises a natural elastomer selected from the group consisting of jelutong, lechi caspi, perillo, sorva, massaranduba balata, massaranduba chocolate, nispero, rosin dinha, chicle, gutta hang kang, smoked or liquid latex, guayule, chiquibul, crown gum, pendare, venezuelau chicle, leche de vaca, niger gutta, tunu, chilte, and combinations thereof.
 3. The chewing gum of claim 1 wherein the elastomer comprises a synthetic elastomer selected from the group consisting of polyisobutylene, butadienestyrene copolymer, polyvinyl acetate, vinyl acetatevinyl laurate copolymer, polyisoprene, isobutyleneisoprene copolymer, and combinations thereof.
 4. The chewing gum of claim 1 wherein the elastomer plasticizer is selected from the group consisting of glycerol esters of rosin, glycerol esters of partially hydrogenated rosin, glycerol esters of polymerized rosin, glycerol esters of partially dimerized rosin, partially hydrogenated methyl esters of rosin, glycerol esters of tal oil rosin, pentaerythritol esters of rosin, methyl esters of rosin, pentaerythritol esters of partially hydrogenated rosin, synthetic terpene resin, natural terpene resin, and combinations thereof.
 5. The chewing gum of claim 1 wherein the filler is selected from the group consisting of calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, talc, ground limestone, magnesium silicate, aluminum silicate, clay, alumina, titanium dioxide, mono-, di- and tri-calcium phosphates, cellulose, and combinations thereof.
 6. The chewing gum of claim 1 wherein the softener is selected from the group consisting of tallow, hydrogenated tallow, hydrogenated vegetable oils, partially hydrogenated vegetable oils, cocoa butter, glycerol monostearate, mono-, di- and triglycerides, acetylated monoglycerides, glyceryl triacetate, lecithin, fatty acids, diacetin, lanolin, and combinations thereof.
 7. The chewing gum of claim 1, wherein the gum base consists primarily of:about 25 to about 45 weight percent synthetic elastomer; about 10 to about 40 weight percent elastomer plasticizer; about 5 to about 30 weight percent filler; and about 15 to about 35 weight percent softener.
 8. The chewing gum of claim 1, wherein the gum base consists primarily of:about 12 to about 30 weight percent natural elastomer; about 20 to about 40 weight percent synthetic elastomer; about 5 to about 25 weight percent elastomer plasticizer; about 4 to about 25 weight percent filler; and about 15 to about 30 weight percent softener.
 9. The chewing gum of claim 1, wherein the gum base consists primarily of:about 30 to about 60 weight percent synthetic elastomer; about 5 to about 55 weight percent elastomer plasticizer; about 10 to about 35 weight percent filler; and about 5 to about 25 weight percent softener.
 10. A bubble gum comprising the chewing gum base of claim
 9. 11. The bubble gum base of claim 10, prepared by:adding a first portion of synthetic elastomer and a first portion of filler to a mixer; adding softener to the mixer along with a second portion of synthetic elastomer and a second portion of filler; adding elastomer plasticizer to the mixer along with a third portion of synthetic elastomer and a third portion of filler; blending the ingredients together; and removing heat at about 30 minutes to about 90 minutes into the mixing time of the base production process.
 12. A wax-free chewing gum having both reduced tack properties and controlled sweetness release, comprising:a water-soluble bulking agent; one or more flavoring agents; and a water insoluble chewing gum base including about 25 to about 45 percent synthetic elastomer, about 10 to about 40 percent elastomer plasticizer, about 5 to about 30 percent filler, and about 15 to about 35 percent softener, by weight of the gum base, and at least one controlled release high intensity sweetener ingredient.
 13. The wax-free chewing gum of claim 13, wherein the synthetic elastomer is selected from the group consisting of styrene-butadiene copolymer, isopreneisobutylene copolymer, polyisobutylene, polyvinyl acetate and combinations thereof.
 14. The wax-free chewing gum of claim 13, wherein the elastomer plasticizer is selected from the group consisting of glycerol ester of wood rosin, glycerol ester of partially hydrogenated wood rosin, terpene resins and combinations thereof.
 15. The wax-free chewing gum of claim 13, wherein the filler is selected from the group consisting of calcium carbonate, talc, and combinations thereof.
 16. The wax-free chewing gum of claim 13, wherein the softener is selected from the group consisting of hydrogenated vegetable oils, glycerol monostearate, lecithin, and combinations thereof.
 17. A wax-free chewing gum, comprising:a water-soluble bulking agent; one or more flavoring agents; and a water insoluble chewing gum base including about 12 to about 30 percent natural elastomer, about 20 to about 40 percent synthetic elastomer, about 5 to about 25 percent elastomer plasticizer, about 4 to about 25 percent filler, and about 15 to about 30 percent softener, by weight of the chewing gum base, and at least one controlled release sweetener having a release profile comparable to the release profile of at least one of the flavoring agents.
 18. The wax-free chewing gum of claim 17, wherein the natural elastomer is selected from the group consisting of jelutong, sorva, chicle, massaranduba balata, and combinations thereof.
 19. The wax-free chewing gum of claim 17, wherein the synthetic elastomer is selected from the group consisting of styrene-butadiene elastomer, isoprene-isobutylene copolymer, polyisobutylene, polyvinyl acetate, and combinations thereof.
 20. The wax-free chewing gum of claim 17, wherein the elastomer plasticizer is selected from the group consisting of glycerol esters of partially hydrogenated rosin, methyl esters of rosin, glycerol esters of rosin, terpene resin, and combinations thereof.
 21. The wax-free chewing gum of claim 17, wherein the filler is selected from the group consisting of calcium carbonate, talc, and combinations thereof.
 22. The wax-free chewing gum of claim 17, wherein the softener is selected from the group consisting of hydrogenated vegetable oils, glycerol monostearate, lecithin, and combinations thereof.
 23. A wax-free chewing gum, comprising:a water-soluble bulking agent; one or more flavoring agents; and a water insoluble chewing gum base including about 20 to about 60 weight percent synthetic elastomer, about 0 to about 30 weight percent natural elastomer, about 5 to about 55 weight percent elastomer plasticizer, about 10 to about 35 weight percent filler, and about 5 to about 25 weight percent softener; and a combination of sweeteners having a sweetness release profile comparable to a flavor release profile of the flavoring agent, including at least one controlled release sweetener.
 24. The wax-free chewing gum of claim 23, wherein the synthetic elastomer is selected from the group consisting of polyisobutylene, polyvinyl acetate, and combinations thereof.
 25. The wax-free chewing gum of claim 23, wherein the elastomer plasticizer is selected from the group consisting of glycerol esters of partially hydrogenated rosin, glycerol esters of rosin, and combinations thereof.
 26. The wax-free chewing gum of claim 23, wherein the filler is selected from the group consisting of calcium carbonate, talc, and combinations thereof.
 27. The wax-free chewing gum of claim 23, wherein the softener is selected from the group consisting of glycerol monostearate, acetylated monoglyceride, glycerol triacetate, and combinations thereof.
 28. A wax-free chewing gum comprising gum base, flavor and at least one controlled release sweetener; said gum base including:about 20 to about 60 weight percent synthetic elastomer; 0 to about 30 weight percent natural elastomer; about 5 to about 55 weight percent elastomer plasticizer; about 4 to about 40 weight percent filler; and about 5 to about 40 weight percent softener, wherein the controlled release sweetener comprises at least one fast release sweetener and at least one slow release sweetener.
 29. The chewing gum of claim 28 wherein the gum has reduced tack to dental surfaces.
 30. The chewing gum of claim 28 wherein the gum is sugarless.
 31. The chewing gum of claim 28 wherein the gum is in the form of a coated pellet or ball.
 32. The chewing gum of claim 28 wherein the gum is a bubble gum.
 33. The chewing gum of claim 1, wherein the controlled release sweetener comprises a high intensity sweetener with modified release characteristics.
 34. The chewing gum of claim 33, wherein the high intensity sweetener is encapsulated.
 35. The chewing gum of claim 33, wherein the high intensity sweetener is spray dried.
 36. The chewing gum of claim 33, wherein the high intensity sweetener is selected from the group consisting of sucralose, aspartame, salts of acesulfame, alitame, saccharin and its salts, cyclamic acid and its salts, glycyrrhizin, dihydrochalcones, thaumatin, monellin, stevia, and combinations thereof.
 37. The chewing gum of claim 33, wherein the high intensity sweetener is combined with another high intensity sweetener to provide modified release characteristics.
 38. The wax-free chewing gum of claim 12, wherein the high intensity sweetener ingredient comprises an encapsulated high intensity sweetener.
 39. The wax-free chewing gum of claim 12, wherein the high intensity sweetener ingredient comprises a spray dried high intensity sweetener.
 40. The wax-free chewing gum of claim 12, wherein the high intensity sweetener ingredient comprises at least one fast release sweetener and at least one slow release sweetener.
 41. The wax-free chewing gum of claim 12, wherein the high intensity sweetener ingredient comprises a sweetener selected from the group consisting of sucralose, aspartame, salts of acesulfame, alitame, saccharin and its salts, cyclamic acid and its salts, glycyrrhizin, dihydrochalcones, thaumatin, monellin, stevia, and combinations thereof.
 42. The wax-free chewing gum of claim 17, wherein the controlled release sweetener comprises a high intensity sweetener having modified release characteristics.
 43. The wax-free chewing gum of claim 42, wherein the high intensity sweetener is encapsulated.
 44. The wax-free chewing gum of claim 42, wherein the high intensity sweetener is spray dried.
 45. The wax-free chewing gum of claim 42, wherein the high intensity sweetener is selected from the group consisting of sucralose, aspartame, salts of acesulfame, alitame, saccharin and its salts, cyclamic acid and its salts, glycyrrhizin, dihydrochalcones, thaumatin, monellin, stevia, and combinations thereof.
 46. The wax-free chewing gum of claim 42, wherein the high intensity sweetener is combined with another sweetener to provide modified release characteristics.
 47. The wax-free chewing gum of claim 23, wherein the controlled release sweetener comprises a high intensity sweetener having modified release characteristics.
 48. The wax-free chewing gum of claim 28, wherein the controlled release sweetener comprises a high intensity sweetener having modified release characteristics. 